A Scriptural Look At Sin

Written by Stephen Kingery

Continued from page 1 As hard as I try, I cannot overcome human tendency to sin. It is impossible for us to live a life free of sin, perhaps even a day without some form of sin in our lives. However, as Christians we have two important items to consider: (1) Jesus died for our sins, and therefore, we have been forgiven of our past sins and our future sins (the shortcomings or "missing mark" so to speak); and (2) we must do everything in our power to control human tendency to sin. In other words, we must strive to identify sin in our lives and then get rid of it. I know that this is a difficult matter in relation to some sin. For example, there are those of us who have what we might call a "private sin." A "private sin" is that which we as an individual deal with each day to overcome but it still plagues us, it seems continuously. This "private sin" could be any number of things: lust, desire for money, pleasure, hatred for someone, a drinking problem and so forth. The key here is that we must always be on look out for it, and guard against it having an effect on our lives and relationships with friends, family and especially God. How can a Christian overcome sin in his or her life? Have you ever really stopped to consider this question? Have you tried to overcome sin and been forced to conclude that you just can't? Have you perhaps given up even trying? I really have two thoughts on this subject. First, I don't think that a Christian can overcome sin. If that were possible, we would not need sacrifice that Jesus made for us as it relates to our future sin. (Remember that before we became a Christian we were sinners and as such needed sacrifice of Jesus' dying on cross for us to receive remission of sin. That is not what I am talking about here.) When Jesus died on cross, He took ALL our sin to cross (not just sins we committed before we became Christians). If we were capable of overcoming sin, we would have just been forgiven of our past sins. The second thought I have is, even though we as an individual cannot overcome sin, we can through Jesus realize a victory over sin. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) In other words, we (by ourselves) cannot overcome sin; but we (through Jesus Christ and His strength) can realize a victory over sin. Is sin still going to be in our lives from time to time? Yes! Do we have to let sin control our lives? No! Can we control sin - through Jesus Christ? Yes! Now even though I have said that it is through Jesus that we are able to control sin, I need to make one thing perfectly clear. It is still up to us as to degree to which sin is controlled! We must take action! How does one go about controlling sin? Or better yet, how does one call upon strength of Jesus Christ to help us in this effort? The answer is really quite simple. The degree to which you are able to control sin in your life is in relation to degree to which you allow God's Word to work in your life. Allow me to explain. Perhaps you are a Christian, and go to church every Sunday morning and that's it. Are you allowing God's Word to strengthen you to overcome battles you will have to fight for coming week in relation to sin. Probably not! On other hand, if you are faithful to worship services to fullest extent possible, spend daily time in prayer and Bible study, faithful in your giving, faithful to Lord's Supper and so forth, you will find strength necessary to overcome temptations of sin. When you spend quality time in prayer and Bible study you receive strength that is in God's word to know what is right and strength to do it. How does it happen? I don't know. I just know that it does. I know because I have experienced it. When I am faithful in those areas mentioned above, I am happier and it is much easier for me to overcome temptations which come along each day. One of my favorite Scriptures is found in book of Joshua when he was giving a speech to Israelites just before they enter promised land. He is telling them that they are to choose which god they are going to follow. Joshua says. "... choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,. . . But as for me and my house, we will serve Lord." (Joshua 24:15) We too in America today need to choose this day (and every day) whom (or what) we will serve. Are we to serve Lord - or will we serve sin? All Scriptures quoted are from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Stephen Kingery is an author, preacher, teacher and founder of Be Ye Doers Of The Word. Visit our site at http://www.james1-22.org

The Rise And Fall Of Babylon

Written by Michael Bradley

Continued from page 1

Therefore her plagues will come in one day - death and mourning and famine. And she will literally be burned with fire, for strong is Lord who judges her.

And kings of earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, this great city Babylon, mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' And merchants of earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore ... Rejoice over her, O heaven, and your holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her."

Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into sea, saying, "Thus with violence great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found ... and light of your lamp shall not shine anymore. For your merchants were great men of earth, for by your sorcery all nations were deceived. And in her was found blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on earth." (Revelations 18:1-24) 3. Here is another verse that says her destruction will come in one hour.

"For in one hour such great riches came to nothing." (Revelations 18:17)

Conclusion

1. Babylon probably has to be rebuilt sometime before 7 year Tribulation starts. If it is going to be a flourishing city by time Antichrist sets out to destroy it, it has to be rebuilt sometime before Antichrist really comes to power in order to properly set stage for it to be a "flourishing and wealthy" city again.

Prophecy students feel that its destruction by Antichrist will probably come somewhere around midpoint of Tribulation or shortly thereafter. Remember, Antichrist will rise to power more on peace and diplomacy during first three and half years. It is in last three and half years of Tribulation that Antichrist basically goes nuts and starts mass persecution of Jews and all who will not accept his mark. My guess is that Babylon is included in last three and half years of his mass destruction of both people and countries.

2. You'll also notice that Babylon is destroyed in one hour by fire. The first verse above says that beast will burn her with fire. I have to believe that Antichrist will probably launch some type of nuclear missile or bomb on Babylon to completely destroy it by fire in one hour.

3. The Bible says our God is a jealous God. The first of Ten Commandments is "You shall have no other Gods before Me." The second commandment says:

"You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in earth beneath, or that is in water under earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I, Lord Your God, am a jealous God ..."

All of other false religions that have come onto this earth all have their origin with ancient city of Babylon - and they all involve some form of idol worship.

With our God Father being one and only true God of entire universe, He calls all of these other false religions originating out of Babylon harlots! That is because they are notone and only true faith involving God of Bible. I've already done an article titled "The Basics of Salvation Through Jesus Christ". The Bible makes it very clear that there is only one faith, one God, one religion and one Savior - Jesus Christ. God Father will not honor in any way, shape or form any of these other false religious systems. All of these other religions are an abomination in His sight and they all have their origin with Satan himself. And city of ancient Babylon was really official starting point from where Satan really started to develop and work in all of other false religions of world today into each of other countries around world.

Once you understand and see "big picture" as how God sees it, you can understand why He would want to resurrect city of Babylon again, just so that He can set it up for its final destruction at end of times.

The above verses also says this destruction is set up by God in order to avenge all of His people who have been martyred throughout history by all of these other false religions.

4. If you want to read more on Babylon and its final destruction, go to chapters 17 and 18 in Revelations. Those two chapters were too long for me to type out everything in this article. The above verses are highlighting basics on this subject for you. Note Revelations 17:3 where it says:

"And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."

The woman is city of Babylon and beast she is sitting on is Antichrist. This verse tells you that initially Babylon will be riding on and working with Antichrist and probably helping him set up his agenda.

There are also predictions that out of Babylon, will come a lot more of New Age Movement, along with a heavy increase in sorcery, magic and occult. Demons and their supernatural powers will be at their peak during end times, and city of Babylon will also have a lot of occultic activity surrounding it which will help draw a lot of people from all over world to visit there. This would probably explain why it is going to become so popular and wealthy again once it is resurrected.

All of above is just another powerful "puzzle piece" given by God in Bible to let us know when we really are starting to approach end of times and return of His Son to our earth to set up His 1000 year Millennium Kingdom.